How life has changed in Winchester

Winchester's population increased by about 9,400 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Winchester increased by 8.7%, from about 107,000 to 117,000.

The addition of just under 9,400 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Winchester was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Winchester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Winchester increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 12.0% of people in Winchester are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Winchester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Winchester

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Winchester was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.5 points.

In 2011, 29.5% of respondents in Winchester gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 17.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Winchester, 68.3% said they were Christian, compared with 81.5% in 2001. About 0.5% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

In Winchester, 7.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.5% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Winchester increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Winchester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Winchester

The percentage of Winchester residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.0% to 2.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Winchester residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.6% to 90.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Winchester, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Winchester, the proportion of private renting increased from 10.5% in 2001 to 14.1% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Winchester fell from 15.9% to 15.5%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70.3% to 67.5%.

Private renting in Winchester increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Winchester, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Winchester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.9% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74.6% in 2001. The percentage of Winchester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.5% to 10.6%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Winchester decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Winchester, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Winchester

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Winchester, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Winchester, the proportion of single people increased from 28.0% in 2001 to 30.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in Winchester fell from 54.8% to 52.7%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.2% to 10.2%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Winchester

In 2011, 2.3% of Winchester residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 1.0% in 2001. The 1.3 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 95.7% of people in Winchester said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.8% in 2001. About 1.4% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.3% to 0.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Winchester increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Winchester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Winchester working less than 16 hours increased from 2.5% to 3.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Winchester increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Winchester, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Winchester residents that were unemployed increased from 1.6% to 2.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53.8% in 2001. The percentage of Winchester residents that were self-employed increased from 10.9% to 12.2%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Winchester with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.2% to 7.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.3%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 27.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Winchester without children remained close to 63.9%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Winchester, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.2% to 6.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39.8%) households had a married couple, compared with 41.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Winchester, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.4% to 8.9%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Winchester residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Winchester remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Winchester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links